Is he your pal? A member of your family? If you get sick tomorrow or die will he send flowers? Was an insult aimed at you? If not, it's not personal. The personal is in your mind. If you're going to defend and promote him you have to understand that people who think you're deeply mistaken to do so are going to have something to say about it.
How you answer defines you. Abridge that dictionary.
Now on the other hand, this is what personal looks like:
That's making light of something that wasn't. And you know what? I'm still not going to expend the energy to be offended.
At the same time, there can nevertheless be a victory - in the resulting reflection on things one is then challenged to reflect on.
Which is never a bad thing.
Forgiving either a slight or a perceived slight, is not often easy for many.
Because the "how to be able to" difference between the ever self-defeating sense of "have to" and the empowering sense of "can" is not often understood by most, nor taught by many.
The result being that many so end up entrenched in the resulting self-defeat of all that, that all another can do is see their obviously sad self-defeat once more, as a warning of what can so easily befall any of us, should we allow ourselves to stray to far from an actually heartfelt "Nevertheless, what saith the Scripture as to CAN be my resulting victory in the Lord, over this, or that?"
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
You see that - even as they spit on Him and reviled Him.
Matthew 26:67 Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands,
Its an odd thing - but there is a victory for the Believer in forgiving others.
Odd as that sounds to our minds...
Or as the Apostle Paul had described the power behind that seeming foolishness...
1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1:19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 1:20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 1:28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Just a matter of that difference between that sense of "have to" (that so many end up ever under the burden of, and that as a result, sooner or later can not but rebel against), and that victory in the Lord that is "I can..."
2 Corinthians 3:16 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the vail shall be taken away. 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.
Easy peasy - Japanesey.
"Forgiveness - pass it on"